Page 99 of Rio's Release

“And?”

“He seemed surprised at her age and confronted her about it. That’s when I returned to the party. A few minutes after I joined you, I saw her come into the tent first, and a minute later, Blue returned. I don’t want to be a tattletale. Maybe it’s no big deal, but if it was to lead to trouble and I’d kept it from you, I’d feel terrible.”

The corner of my mouth lifts, and I know I will never have to worry about this woman being less than honest with me. “I appreciate you telling me. You did the right thing. Your loyalty is to me first and my men second.”

“I just hate feeling like I ratted him out. You don’t have to tell him, do you?”

“I can’t promise that. But he’s the one who fucked up, not you, babe.”

“Still, they all just met me. I don’t want to be the woman they can’t trust and can’t stand to be around.”

“Babe, it was just a kiss, right? Don’t blow it out of proportion.”

“If you say so, but who knows what happened after we left.”

“Well, since Eduardo isn’t banging the door down right now with a shotgun, demanding I turn my man over to him, let’s not worry about it. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“What time is Bella coming home?”

“I’m supposed to pick her up after breakfast.”

“They were going out for pancakes, right?”

“Yeah, the diner.”

“How about we join them?”

“They won’t be there for hours. It’s too early.”

I grin. “That’s okay, baby. I know a way to kill some time.”

“Sleeping?” she says, hopefully.

“Not exactly. But you can lie there and let me do all the work.” With that, I slide down her body, spread her thighs, and give my baby all the attention she deserves.

At 9am we arrive at the diner.

I notice immediately the glass in Dolly’s door has been boarded up, but there’s a handwritten sign that says,yes, we’re open.

“That’s funny. I noticed two other places on this street with plywood boarding up some glass.”

The aroma of bacon sizzling on the grill hits us the minute we walk in. I guide Shelby with a hand at the small of her back, and we join Jenny and Bella in a booth by the window. We’re barely seated before Dolly hustles over to the table.

I can tell by the tightness of her face that something’s wrong. She looks pissed.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” She jerks her head for me to step away from the table.

“Order me the breakfast special,” I lean to tell Shelby, then get up to follow.

Shelby nods, looking worriedly over my shoulder.

Bella slides into our side of the booth with her mother. “Can I get whipped cream on my pancakes, Mommy?”

I follow Dolly to the far end of the counter near the kitchen, and she whirls on me, a hand landing on her hip.

“I was about to call the number on that card you gave me. You saved me the trouble.”

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